Operating means for permanent magnet chucks



Jan. 7, 1941. BLQQD 2,228,195

OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNET GHUCKS Filed July 27, 1938 X Harold L.B1o'od, 9- 49 w Patent ed Jan-7,1941 v I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNET CHUCKS Harold L. Blood, Worcester,- Mass, assignor to The Heald Machine Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 27, 1938, Serial No.221,521 Claims. (01. 279-1) The present invention relates to permanent the position of the chuck when being energized magnet chucks, and particularly to a means for or deenergized. The invention is particularly operating a permanent magnet chuck so that a appl a l to rotary chucks in which the actupiece of work positioned on the chuck may be ation of the chuck is obtained through an actu- 5 removed. ating member concentric to the chuck spindle so 5 Electrically energized magnet chucks for holdthat the chuck may be energized or deenergized ing pieces. of work for machining operations independently of its position on the machine. thereon are well known, and are entirely satis- Other and further objects and advantages of factory in operation. Ther is, however, th disthe invention will more fully appear from the advantage that electric power must be supplied following detailed description taken in connec- 10 to the chuck, and accordingly, conducting wires, tion with-the accomp drawing. in Whi hor in the case of rotary chucks, collector rings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rota rface and brushes mu t be utilized for du ting th grinder having mounted thereon a chuck empower to the chuck. The objection to chucks of bodying the invention.

5 this character has been overcome by the use of Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of such a permanent magnet chucks of the type shown, for chuck. example, in the Bower Patent No. 2,053,177, dated Fis- 3 s a p View o t chuck, o September 1, 1936. These chucks had originally a i a sectional w similar to F 2, the dimculty that there was no means for releasshowing a modification.

'20 ing the piece of work to allow its removal from F1!- 5 i a p w of the chuck o 18- the chuck, since the work must be removed Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a part of against the holding action of the magnets. the actuating means of Fig. 3.

A provision for deenergizing a permanent mag- Fig. 7 isa sectional view similar to Fig. 2, show net chuck is described in the above cited Bower in a further modification. I

patent in which the poles of the permanent mag- Like reference characters refer to like parts in 25 nets are covered by separate pole pieces in the the diilerent figures. plate upon which the piece of work is placed. With reference first to Fig. 1, the machine has These pole pieces and the magnets are relatively a base I on which is mounted for reciprocation movable, to insure that substantially all of the on ways 2 a w eelhead e ec p ocaticn of magnetic flux passes through the pole pieces o the wheelhead is controlled by any suitable re- 30 that the workpiece resting on the plate containversing mechanism which is not a feature of the in the pol pieces is th reby The invention. On the base I is also mounted aworkstructure by which the pole pieces and magnets head 4 having a sp n 5 rotated y any s itable are moved relative to each other, involves, in this mechanism. as r e l the r sagins patent, an oscillatory shaft connected bye, linkgears 6 and 1. Provision is made for vertical 35 age to the permanent magnets which are slidable adjustment of the workhead by means of a hand in a casing beneath the chuck plate on which wheel 8. On the upper n the p l I is the workpieces rest. A crank on the end of the mo n Permaneht magnet hu 9 Which is oscillatory shaft provides .for shifting the position adap d to ld w inp sitlon for grinding.

40 of the magnets into eithz: workholding or work Although the invention is shown in connection 40 releasing position. This structure is generally, with a rotary surface grinder, it will be undersatisfactory except where the chuck is mounted stood t the nv nt may as readily be apfor rotation during the machining of a workpiece pl d to y other t p 1' machine to which a held thereby. when the chuck'is used in this magnetic chuck is applicable and the showing manner, the operating lever, or the oscillating of the grindi m e is merely an instance of 45 shaft actuated by the lever, if the lever is removone use for the chuck embodying the invention. able, may frequently be so located, when the With reference now to Fig. 2, the permanent chuck is stopped, as to make extremely dimcult magnet chuck has a base In secured as by bolts Y the manual shifting of the p rmanent magnets II to the upper end of the spindle 5 in the workfor deenergizlng the chuck. head. A casing l2 rests on the base plate In and 50 One of the principal objects of the present ina top or pole plate I! is pos ti ed on t e pe vention is to provide a control means for permaend of the casing, the casing and top and botnent magnet chucks which will permit energizing tom plates forming an enclosure for the mmor deenergizing of the chuck from a point remote netic unit and being suitably held together. The from the chuck itself, thereby making immaterial top plate has inner pole pieces I! positioned in 5 slots l5 therein, the inner pole pieces being insulated magnetically from the rest of the top plate by suitable strips ii of non-magnetic material, which may be, for example, tin.

The magnetic unit which holds the workpieces in place on the upper side or the top plate 12 comprises a series of bar magnets IT and a series of conductor bars l8, the latter being insulated from the bar magnets by suitable strips is of nonmagnetic material. The bar magnets and conductor bars are all fastened together for movement as a unit, as by suitable bolts 20. The casing i2 is of a. size to allow the magnet unit to be shifted laterally within the casing through a predetermined distance, the shifting movement being adjusted b T suitable stop screws 2! and 22.

When the chuck is energized or in a. condition to hold workpieces on the upper side of the top plate E3, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the magnetioilux from the upper end of the magnet ll passes through the portion of the top plate directly thereabove and downwardly through the pole pieces H to the upper ends of the conductor bars i8, this flux accordingly passing through a workpiece or workpieces on the top plate. In effect the pole pieces I4 are magnetized to have a polarity opposite to that of the .top plate. when the bar magnets and conductor bars are shifted to engage the adjusting screw 22 the bar magnets are no longer directly beneath the portions of the top plate between the pole pieces and instead these portions of the plate overlie both the upper ends of the bar magnets and the connector bars, so that the magnetic flux is no longer directed through a workpiece resting on the top plate, but is substantially entirely passed directly through the portions of the top plate or the pole pieces which bridge the spaces between the conductor bars and the bar magnets.

The above structure is not of itself the present invention; the latter involves a provision for shifting the magnetic unit relative to the top plate l3 so as to deenergize the chuck for releasing workpieces irom the top plate. Although the term deenergize is utilized the magnets are not themselves deenergized; on the contrary, the deenergization of the chuck merely involves a shifting of the lines of magnetic force so as to release the workpiece.

In accordance with the present invention, the magnetic unit has an elongated slot 22 therein for the reception of a rod 24 axially slidable in the spindle. The rod 24 has a projecting pin 25 in its upper end thereof for engagement in grooves 26 in opposite sides 01. the slot 23, only one 01' the grooves being shown. Upward movement of the rod 24 is effected by a hand lever2l, Fig. 1, pivoted on a pin 24 in a part of the workhead and having a lateral extension 29 engaging with the lower end of the rod 24. Vertical movement of the rod 24 by means of the lever 21 will cause a lateral shifting movement or the magnetic unit so that the conductor bars will be placed out of alinement with the inner poles i 4.

Thus the lines of force which normally pass through a workpiece positioned on the top plate will be directed through the top plate without passing through the pieces of work on the top plate so that a workpiece may be removed from the chuck.

It will be apparent that upward movement of the rod 24 shifts the magnetic unit to the left and against the adjusting screw 22, thereby placing the chuck in a deenergized condition. Downward movement of the rod 24 will restore the magnet unit to the position shown, so that the chuck will again be energized for holding a workpiece in position.

With reference to Fig. 4, which shows a modlfication, the chuck is designed so that it is deenergized by a slight turning movement of the permanent magnets relative to the top. plate rather than a lateral movement of the permanent magnets, as in Fig. 2. As shown, the chuck comprises a bottom plate 21 secured as by bolts 28 to the upper end of the spindle 5 corresponding to the spindle 5 of Figs. 1 and 2. A casing 28 is positioned on the bottom plate and a top plate 30 closes the upper end of the casing 29. The bottom plate has a central upwardly extending boss II on which an inner plate 32 is turnable. The latter supports segment-shaped bar magnets 34 suitably insulated from each other as by non-magnetic strips, not shown. The top plate 30 has segment-shaped inner pole pieces 34, Fig. 5, insulated from the remainder of the top plate by suitable strips 35 of non-magnetic material, which may be, for example, tin. The bar magnets are obviously similar in-shape and arrangement to the inner pole pieces 34. A permanent magnet chuck of this character is well known and need not be described in further detail.

In accordance with the present invention the permanent magnet chuck is deenergized to permit removal of pieces of work resting on the top plate ll by a slight turning movement of the magnetic unit whichwill shift the bar magnets 'from positions directly in line with, and-beneath,

the inner pole pieces 34 to positions out of line therewith, so that the lines of force which normally pass through a workpiece positioned on the top plate will be short-circuited through the top plate, thereby releasing a piece of work resting on the chuck. To this end the plate 32 has a radial slot 46 in which is positioned a lever 31, the outer end of which is pivoted on a pin 38 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 21. The lever 21 between its ends, engages with a pin 39 projecting downwardly from the plate 32 and the inner end oi! the lever is notched, as at 40, Fig. 6, to receive a diagonally extending bar 4| forming an integral part or an upwardly projecting rod 42 axially slidable in the hollow spindle 5'. Vertical movement of the rod 42 will cause rocking movement of the lever 31 about the pin 24 as an axis and will therefore provide a slight angular movement of the magnetic unit relative to the top plate. A slot 44 in the boss 3| allows the lever to extend into the axial opening 44 in the bottom plate 21 in which the rod 42 is slidable.

For vertical movement of the rod 42, which may be procured either automatically or manually, the lower end 01' the rod has a transversely extending pin 45 extending through a diametrically positioned slot 44 in the spindle 5'. The outer ends of the pin 45 engage a collar 41 slidable on the spindle I and having a central annular groove 48 for engagement with a projecting pin 4! on one arm 44 o! a bell crank lever 5| turnable on a pin 52. The other arm II of the bell crank lever engages with a notch 54 in a piston rod 55 connected to a piston 84 slidable in a casing 51.

If desired, the control valve' 7 ior deenergizing the chuck will be procured automatlcally at the termination of the grinding operation after the rotation-oi the chuck has been stopped.

With reference nowto Fig. 7, the chuck therein shown is very similar in construction to the chuck oi Fig. 4. The machine spindle-l" has mounted thereon a bottom plate 21'. A casing 20- surrounds the permanent magnetic unit and the latter is covered by a top plate 3.. The inner plate S2 in this modification has an annular recess ll having gear teeth 58 on its inner periphery. A gear 80, engageable with the teeth 59, is positioned in the recess 58 and is turnable on a stud 6| projecting from the bottom plate 21'. A pinion 62 surrounds the upper end oi the actuated rod 42' and has helical notches on its inner surface to engage witha multiple thread 83 on the upper end of the rod. The latter is shifted vertlcally by any suitable mechanism, as for example, the mechanism shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig.4, and the axial shifting movement-oi the rod procures, through the gears 80 and 62, a slight the spindles 5, 5' and 5" have means ior assuring a rotation of the chuck actuating rods therewith, and to this end, as shown in Fig. 5, the spindle 5" has an elongated keyway 64 to receive a key 65 positioned in the actuating rodfl.

With the magnetic unit in a position ior energization oi the chuck it will be apparent that 'the pole pieces have a polarity opposite to that of the remainder oi the top or pole plate so that the workpiece is securely held against the face oi the chuck by such magnetism. When the magnetic unit is moved into position for the chuck to be deenergized, the magnetic unit is in such a position that the topplate is demagnetized so that the pole piecm and pole plate are not of opposite polarity and theworkpiece is no longer held securely against the chuck iace.

From the ioregoing it will be-apparent that the invention provides a means ior'energizing or deenergizing a permanent magnet chuck' which is operable independently oi the position in which the chuck stops. Especially in rotary chucks, the latter are deenergized by means oi a rod slidable axially oi the spindle on which the chuck is mounted, so that the chuck may be energized or deenergized independently oi the position .oi the chuck when it comes to rest.

I claim:

55 1. In a rotary permanent magnet chuck, a base member, a rotary spindle onwhich said member is mounted, a pole plate on said base member having a plurality oi spaced pole pieces, each oi which is magnetically insulated irom the remain der oi the pole plate, a magnetic unit incorporatme pole plate i'or demagnetizing the pole plate, I

.tivetothepoleplateinresponsetoaxialmove- 70 ment oi the rod. 2. In a rotary permanent-magnet chuck, abese ing permanent magnets engegeable with the pole plate ior imparting to the pole pieces a polarity opposite to the polarity oi the remainder oi the pole plate, said u'nit being movable relative to a rod positioned centrally oi and movable axial-- 1y oi the spindle, and connecting means between the rod and said unit ior shifting said unitrelaturning movement of the magnetic unit for de energizing the chuck. It will be understood that member, a rotary spindle on which said member is mounted, a pole plate on said base member having a plurality oi spaced pole pieces, each oi which is magnetically insulated irom the remainder oi the poleplate, a magneticunit in-' corporating permanent magnets engageable with the pole plate for imparting to the pole pieces a polarity opposite to the polarity oi the remainder of the pole plate, said unit being movable rela-- tive to said pole plate ior demagnetizing the pole plate, a rod positioned centrally oi and movable axially oi the spindle, connecting means be-,

corporating permanent magnets engageable with ,5

the pole plate for imparting to the pole pieces a polarity opposite to the polarity oi the remainder of the pole plate, said unit being movable relative to said pole plate ior demagnetizing the pole plate, a rod positioned centrally oi and movable axially oi the spindle, connecting, means between the rod and said unit for shitting said unit relative to the pole plate in response to axial movement of the rod, and fluid pressure means 'engageable with the rod at a point spaced from the chuck ior shitting said rod.

4. In a rotary permanent-magnet chuck, a base member, a rotary spindle on which said member is mounted, a pole plate on said base member having a plurality of spaced pole pieces, each oi which is magnetically insulated irom the remainder oi the pole plate, a magnetic unit incorporating permanent magnets engageable with the pole plate ior imparting to the pole pieces a polarity opposite to the polarity oi the remainder oi the pole plate, said unit being angularly movable relative to said pole plate ior demagnetizing the pole plate, a rod positioned centrally oi and movable axially oi the' spindle, and connecting means between the rod and the unit ior turning said unit angularly in response to axial movement oi the rod.

5. In a rotary permanent-magnet chuck, a base ber having a plurality oi spaced pole pieces, each oi which is magnetically insulated irom the remainder oi the pole plate, a magnetic unit incorporating permanent magnets engageable withthe pole plate ior imparting to the pole pieces a D0! larity opposite to the polarity oi the remainder oi the pole plate, said unit being angular-1y movable relative to said pole plate ior demagnetizing the pole plate. a rod positioned centrally oi and movable axially oi the spindle, connecting means between the rod and the unit ior turning said unit angularly in response to axial movement oi the rod, and means engageable with the rod at a point remote iromitceonnection to the mag-v netic unit iorshiiting said rod.-

' narcon n snoop. 

